Relay-interrupter



R. I. UTTER, RELAY INTERRUPTER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1917.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

flit/55127 f. UZYZPZ".

' four relays of the step-by-step type,

- four interrupter ,leads are closed and opened To all whom it UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD AND SUPPLY comrnw, or cnroaco,

I. warm or oax PARK, rumors, ASSIGNOR TO xnrnooe ILLINOIS, A coarona'rIon' or ILLInoIs.

SWITCHBOABD RELAY-INTERRUPTER.

Specification of Letters Ijatent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

Application filed March 24, 1917.. Serial No. 157,067.

may "concern: Be it known that I, Rrcrmnn I. U'r'rnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in .Oak Park, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Relay-Interrupters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to interrupters, and has to do more particularly with interrupters for ringing circuits such as are used in connection withtelephone systems. Intelephone systems of the class in which called automatic or machine ringing is used,

theringing current is usually intermittently I applied to signal the called-for substation. For this purpose interrupter devices of various kinds are used for intermittently energizing and deenergizing the ringing relays to secure these intermittent ringing periods. In connection with such systems, it is desirable that the exchange be divided into sections so that the ringing current is taken from the ringing generator at different pe-- riods in order wto more load. Therefore, the are usuall arranged so as to provide a'number of di erent interrupter circuits. Motor driven interrupters are commonly used but are found comparatively small exchanges.

One of the ob'ects of my invention is to provide a simple, compact and comparatively equally distribute the inexpensive interrupter device, an

to this end I use a pair of master relays and a number of relays, equal to the number of interrupter leads desired, of the stepby-step type, that is, relays of the type which control ratchet and pawl mechanism for advancing the ratchet one step uponeach complete energization and de'einergization of the magnet.

In the accompanying drawing, I shpl-w t is four interrupter combination giving That is, the

operating at different times.

successively at different periods. Of course, it is to be understood that the fourshown are for'the purpose of illustration only as it will be-readily seen that any number 0 relays may be used and that other -circuit arrangements may be provided.

My invention is adapted for other uses,

interrupter dGVlCBS.

expensive for leads but forthe purpose of illustrating it I have shown the interrupter circuit operating in connection with a cord circuit equipped with automatic ringing. Referring now in general to the interrupter circuit A in which the apparatus is shown in an unactuated position, it comprises relays 15 and 17 which are preferably slow-acting, and which I call timing or master relays. The said relays are provided'with copper Sleeves to make them slow in releasing their armatures but any other of the well known means may be provided to accomplish this purose.

I also provide four relays of the abovementioned step-by-step type, namely: relays a, b, c and d, which I will term motor or"stepping magnets. I will now briefly describe relay a. A disk 1 associated with the magnet a is mounted upon the forward end thereof and is provided with a ratchet 3, which is preferably formed integrally with the disk 1. A'pawl associated with the ratchet 3, the said pawl 2 being pivotally supported upon an arma' ture 4 of the magnet So that upon each actu- 2 is operatively p ation of the magnet the disk 1 is rotated one I plurality of insulation buttons or studs 5 are mounted on the periphery o the disk 1, and for the purpose of illustrating and describing my invention I show the buttons 5 equally spaced on the periphery step. A

of the disk so that on each fourth actuation of the disk 1 a button 5 will engage the spring 7 of a pair of springs and 8, which springs are opera ively associated with the relay a. The operation of spring 7 by a stud 5 brings about the closure of the contact springs 7 and 8 to connect its associated interrupter lead 10 to battery, as will be more fully described in the ensuing specification.

- To further illustrate my invention, I have shown the cord circuit D for interconnecting two substations B and C which terminate in the line circuits L and L respectively. comprising line relays LR, cut-off relays C ,llne signals S, and multiple jacks J. The cord circuit D is designed for automatic ringm and I have shown the interrupter circuit in operative relation therewith. he cord circuit D com rises the usual answering and calling plugs and P answerin and ing supervisory relays AS an the apparatus is in associated with a supervisory lamps SS and SS The automatic ringing apparatus ofthe cord clrcuit D co prises a party line rm mg key RK, four ringing generators G 2 and G a ringing control relay RUlt, an interrupter relay TR, and .a switching relay SW.

To more fully explain my invention. it Wlll be assumed that the interrupter circuit A is twelve-position switchboard, equipped with cord circuits as D. The interrupter A has four interrupter leads 10, 11, 12 and 13 controlled by the operation of the difi'erent magnets a, b, c and d of the interrupter circuit and are multiply con-- nected to the different positions of the switchboard, preferably as follows: The lead 10 is common to the cord circuits D of and ninth positions, lead 11 to the second, sixth and tenth positions, lead 12 to the third, seventh and-eleventh positions, and lead 13 to the fourth, eighth and twelfth positions. The interrupter circuit A is continually operating, but may be cut ofl by a switch 14 in the battery lead. Only one interrupter lead is closed at a time, and in the drawings I show the interrupter lead 10 connected so that upon the first energize tion of ma et a the button -5 disengages the spring to open the contact springs 7 and 8 to disconnect the interrupter lead 10 from battery. The disk 1 associated with the magnet b, as shown, will have to he stepped once to bring about the closure of its contact springs 7 and 8, and the disk 1 associated with magnet 0 will have to be stepped twice to bring about the closure of its contact springs 7 and 8. The disk 1 associated with magnet d will have to be stepped three times to bring about the closure of its contact springs 7 and 8.

I will now describe one complete cycle of operation of the interrupter. Assuming that position as illustrated, a circuit for the relay 15 is first established from battery through the switch 14, the winding of rela 15, to round at normal contact 16 of relay 17. he closing of al ternate contact 18 of relay 15 closes an energizing circuit for the relay 17 traced from battery through the winding of the said relay 17, to ground at alternate contact 18 of relay 15. he closure of alternatecontact 16 of relay 17 establishes an energizmg circuit for the magnets a, b, c and d, the circuit of magnet a being traced from battery through the winding of the magnet a to ground at alternate contact 16; the circuit of magnet 72 from battery through the winding of the magnet 72, and over conductor 20 to ground at alternate contact 16; the circuit of magnet c from battery through the winding-of the said magnet c, and .over conductor 20 to ground at alternate contact 16; the circuit of magnet 01 from battery through the wind mg of the said magnet d, and over conductor 20 to ground at alternate contactlfi. The magnets a, b, c and d are thus simultaneously energized, attracting their respective armatures 4. The pawl 2 of each armature 4 engages a tooth of the ratchet 3 upon each respective disk 1, rotating each disk 1 of the magnets a, b, 0 and 03 one step. A further result due to the energization of magnet 17 is the opening of its normal contact 16, thereby opening the energizing circuit for the magnet 15. The magnet 15 denergizing, brings about the opening of its alternate contact 18, thus openin the energizing circuit of the magnet 17. The relays15 an 17 being slow-acting relays, that is, slow to release, release their respective armatures in about one-half second of time and keep in continuous operation. The rotation of the disk 1 of magnet a one step causes a button 5 to disengage the spring 7 thus opening the closed contacts 7 and 8, and disconnecting the interrupter lead 10 from its associated first, fifth and ninth positions of the exchange switchboard.

he closure of the magnet 6 steps its associated disk 1 one step which brings one of its buttons 5 into engagement with the spring 7 thus closing the contact springs 7 and 8 and connecting battery over conductor 30 and through the now closed contacts 7 and 8 to the interrupter lead 11, which interrupter lead is associated with the second, sixth and tenth positions of the exchange switchboard. The energization of the mag net 0 steps its associated disk 1 one step, bringing one of its buttons 5 into osition so that on the next energization of t e ma at 0 its contacts 7 and 8 will be closed. he energization of the magnet d steps its associated disk 1 one step and brings one of its buttons 5 to a position so that upon its second following energization it will bring about the closure of its associated contact springs 7 and 8.

he opening of normal opened the energizing circuit contact 16 for relay -l5 and the closure of contact 16 with its alternate relays a, 6,

contact closed the circuit for c and d, as before described. When the armature of relay 15 finally falls back, it ogens the energizing circuit of rela 17 and t en when the armature of relay 1 falls back, the circuit of-rela s a, b, a and d" is opened, thus permitting t em to deen'ergize. A further result due to thedeergization of relay 17 is the closure of a circuit for relay.15 through its normal contact 16.

ener zing closes a circuit 17 through its normal contact, and. relay 1 upon energizing starts the same cycle of o eration over again.

Fromt e foregoing description, it will be readily seen that upon each fourth step of magnet a, one of its buttons 5 operates to Relay 15 upon for rela close its contact springs 7 and 8, and this v B wishes to converse is alsd true of the other magnets b, c and d. I have found by experiment that in timing the relays so that one cycle of operation occurs in four seconds very satisfactory results are obtained, as this brings each interrupter lead in operative relation with its associated cord circuitsfor one second of time and disconnects each one for a perio of three seconds.

I will now describe the interrupter circuit A o crating in connection with the cord circuit which I will assume is one of the cord circuits of the first position with which i the interrupter lead 10 is common. Assuming that the subscriber at the substation with. the subscriber at the substation C, the removal of the receiver at the substation B closes an energizing circuit for the line relay LR to light the line signal S. The operator now inserts the plug P into the jack J, operating the cutoff relay CO over a circuit traced from battery through the impedance coil R, the sleeve contacts of the plug P and jack J, and through the winding of the cut-oil relay CO to ground. Relay 09 upon energizing interru ts the energizing circuit of the line relay R to efiace the line si nal S. Answering supervisory relay AS is a so 0 erated from battery through the coil sleeve contacts of the connected. plug and jack, through the calling substation tip contacts of the connected plug and jack and through the winding AS to ground. Relay AS upon energizing, opens ts normal contact to prevent the premature lighting of the supervisory signal SS.

Assuming that the substation C is wanted and that the line is idle, the operator inserts the plug 1? into the jack J, 01 an energizing circuit for the cut-ofi' re ay .00

and the switching relay SW in series over through the sleeve contacts of a circuit traced om battery winding of the relay SW, the connected. lug and the windin o the relay The relay W upon ener alternate contact 35, there y closing a cir cuit for the supervisory signal SS which signal remains lighted until the called-for depresses the proper ringing plunger 17, p 1) or p of the party lineringing key RK. Assuming it is the plunger p which is .depressed, the end sprin s 36 and 37 momentarily assume their a tomato position, the springs 37 closing an ener the, ringing control relay battery through the winding of the relay RCR, the closed contact 37, conductor 38 and the normal contact 39 of relay CS to ground at alternate contact 35 of relay SW. Although the circuit of relay RCR is inter- CR, traced from rupted at contact 37 when the operator removes pressure from the actuated plunger,

alternate contact 44 of relay IR,

'ack and through CO to ground. 'zing, closes its energizing circuit izing. circuit for closed a lockthe relay RCR has previouslg' from battery circuit for itself trace energization of the rela contact 41 is closed which connects interrupter lead 10 of the interrufiter circuit A with the interrupter rel of the cord ay I circuit D. Assuming that the disk 1 of the through the Winding of the Said relakcaigmagnet a, is in a position as illustrated, its

associated contacts 7 and 8 are closed, thus establishing an energizing circuit for the interrupter relay IR traced from battery, over conductor 30, through closed contacts 7 and 8 of the magnet a, the interrupter lead 10, alternate contact 41 of relay RCR, conductor 42, normal contact 36 oi the end springs, conductor 43, and through the winding of the interrupter relay IR to ground. Upon the energizationpf the interrupter relay IR, it closes its alternate contact 44 which connects ringing current to the called line from the ungrounded pole of the generator G, through alternate contact p of key RK over conductor 45, through alternate contact 46 of relay SW, ti contacts of the connected plug P and jac J through the condenser and callv bell to the called substation C, backthrough sleeve contacts of the connected jack J andplug P, the alternate contact 47 of relay IR to battery and ground. The relay IR is energized each time the interrupter lead 10 is connected to battery through contacts 7 and 8 of the magnet a. described, the interrupter relay IR is energized eachtime the contact springs of the ,magnet a are in position as illustrated, thus connecting ringing current with the wanted line for about one second of time, and allowing,the silent interval of about three seconds. It is to be understood that ringing periods and silent periods 0 any duration may be useddnstead' of the arbitrarily assigned ones.

When the called subscriber answers, an

for the relay CS is established over the line causing its energization. Rela 'CS upon energizing, opens contact 39, t ereby interrupting the locking circuit of relay RCR causing it to deenergize and open the circuit of the relay IR at its alternate contact 41. The opening of alternate contact 41 disconnects the interrupter lead 10 which prevents the relay IR from again energizing. he opening of contact 39 of relay CS also efiaces the supervisory signal SS When conversation has been completed and the receivers have been replaced on their respective switc AS and CS deenergize and again light t e supervisory signals and SS, respectively, whereupon the operator withdraws h books, the rela s the plugs P and P from the jacks J and J resgoring the cord and line circuits to norma From the foregoing, it will be seen how the four magnets a, b, c and d successively energize the interrupter leads 10, 11, 12 and 13, respectively, the slow relays 15 and 17 giving ringing and silent periods of any esired duration. It will also be apparent that the number of magnets may be increased or diminished so that various numbers of ringing leads may be provided. I also contemplate using my invention in various other Ways than that shown and, therefore, I do not desire to be limited to the exact features as shown and described. but aim to cover all that which comes within the spirit and scope of the ap ended claims.

What I claim as new and esire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An interrupter system of the character described, including a plurality of step-bystep magnets, means for simultaneously energizing and denergizing said magnets, a source of current, interrupter leads associated with said magnets, and means controlled by said magnets for difl'erently intermittently connecting said source of current to said interpreter leads.

2. An interrupter system of the character described, including a plurality of magnets, means for simultaneously energizing and deenergizing said magnets, a source of current, interrupter leads, and means controlled y said magnets for intermittently connecting said source of current to the different leads at different periods.

3. An interrupter system including a pair of cooperating relays, circuits extending between said relays for effecting an automatic,

continuous, consecutive energization and deenergization thereof, a source of current, step-by-step magnets provided with contacts, interrupter leads connected to said contacts, said step-by-step magnets being controlled by said relays to connect said source of current intermittently to said in terrupter leads.

4. An interrupter system of the character described including a plurality of relays, a source oi current, circuit connections extending between said relays for efiecting an automatic, continuous, consecutive energizetion and deenergization thereof, a pluralit of step-by-step magnets, circuits for said magnets controlled by said relays, and interrupter leads extending throu h the contacts of said magnets whereby sai source or current is successively connected to and then successively disconnected from said leads.

5. An interrupter system of the character described, including a pair of relays, a source of current, circuit connections between, said relays whereb trols the energization of t e other, step-byfrom contacts one relay con-.

step magnets controlled by said relays, a plurality of interrupter leads extending controlled by said magnets, interrupter leads connected to said contacts, said contacts being so arranged that said interrupter leads are intermittently closed at diflerent periods for the different leads.

6. An interrupter system of the character described, including relays, ,a source of current, circuit connections between said relays for effecting an automatic, continuous, sequential operation thereof, step-by-step magnets, circuits for said magnets controlled by one of said relays, and interrupter leads extending from contacts of different ones of said magnets whereby said leads are intermittently energized at difi'erent periods for the different leads.

7. An interrupter system of the character described, comprising a plurality of relays, a source of current, circuit connections between said relays for effecting an automatic, continuous, sequential energization and deenergization thereof, a plurality of step-bystep magnets, circuits for said magnets controlled by one of said relays, and a plurality of interrupter leads connected to contacts of said magnets whereby successive energizations of said leads are eflected.

8. An interrupter system of the character described, including a plurality of step-bystep magnets, means for simultaneously energizing and deenergizing said magnets, a plurality of interrupter leads, a source of current, contacts for said magnets for connecting said source of current to said interrupter leads, said contacts being so arranged that said interrupter leads are successively connected'to said source of current.

9. An interru ter system of the character described, including a plurality of step-bystep magnets, relay means for simultaneously and intermittently energizing and deenergizing said magnets, a source of current, interru ter leads, and contacts controlled by said magnets for intermittently sequentially connecting said source of current to said interrupter leads.

10. An interrupter system including a pair of cctiperating relays, circuits extending between said relays for efiecting an automatic, continuous, consecutive energization and deenergization thereof, a source of current, step-by-step magnets provided with contacts, interrupter leads connected to said contacts, said step-by-step magnets being connected in parallel and energized and deenergized by said relays to connect said source of current intermittently to said interrupter leads, and condensers connected across said contacts.

11. An interru ter system oi the charactar described, including a plurality of step-by-step magnets, a plurality of slowactingrelays cooperating to causea continubus energization and deenergization-thereacter described including a lurality of ays for simulmagnets, automatic continuous y operating of, means including said re taneously energizing a d denergiz said electromagnetic means for simultaneously magnets, a plurality of interrupter eads, energizing and denergizing said magnets, a source of current, contacts for said maginterrupter leads, a source of current, and

nets for connect sa1d source of current tomeans controlled by said magnets for consaid interrupter eads, said contacts necting said source of current at different so arranged-that said interrupter leads are periods to the diiferent leads. successively connected to said source of cur- 15. system of the character described rent, and condensers connected across said including a plurality of electromagnets, a

contacts. V pair of cooperating slow-actingl relays for 12. An interrupter system of the charsimultaneously energizing and energizing acter described, including a plurality of said electromagnets, interrupter leads, a magnets, means for simultaneously enersource of current, and means controlled by gizing and deenergizing said magnets, a said magnets for connecting said source of source of current, interrupter leads, means current to the different leads.

controlled by said. magnets for intermit- 16. A system of the character described tently connecti said source of current to including a plurality of el ectromagnets, the ifierent lea s at different riods, and electromagnetically driven means for simula pair of relays'included in sai, first means. taneously energizing and deenergizing said 13. An interrupter system of the 'charelectromagnets, interrupter leads, a source acter described, Including a plurality of of current, and contacts controlled by said magnets, means for simultaneously ener iz- 'magnets for intermittentl connecting said ing and de'einergizing said magnets, rate et source of current upon alternate energizaand pawl mechanism associated with each tions thereof to the nterrupter leads.

of said magnets, contacts controllable by Si ned by me at Chicago, in the county 1 said ratchet and pawl mechanism, and a of ook and State of Illinois, in the pressource of current and interrupter leads asence of two witnesses.

being so operated that said source of current is'intermittently connected to the difierent I Witnesses: leads at different periods of time. G. Yaxsonosm, 14. An interrupter system of the char- M. R. Rocm'onn. 

